Month: March 2016

Everyone has their own list of “must-haves’ when it comes to house hunting, and everyones list is different. I’ve found that people tend to fall into two different categories – emotional house hunters and practical house hunters.

Without question I am an emotional house hunter. I cried whilst looking round both of the two houses my husband and I went on to buy. I had made my mind up within about a minute of stepping foot in the front door. In fact, my husband will tell you with our first house it was before I had even stepped foot inside. We did a little drive by just before our viewing and I saw the current owner lighting a candle in the front window. It looked like the cosiest, most inviting house I had ever seen. And I wanted it to be mine from that moment.

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I’m a sucker for a beautiful hallway. A spacious and character filled hallway was pretty high up on the ‘must have’ list when we were house hunting. Yes, I realise that makes no sense considering you spend almost zero time in the hall…but just look at these beautiful images and tell me that you don’t agree?

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If you’re armed with lots of left over tissue paper from last weeks DIY tutorial, you will like today’s post…because today we’re making tissue paper pom poms!

Step one

Beginning by cutting squares of tissue paper – the size will depend on how big or small you want your pom poms to be, I made mine approx 25 x 25cm. The key to a nice fluffy pom pom is lots of layers. I usually use at least 8 to 10 sheets of paper for each one.

Step two

Fold the sheets of tissue paper in a concertina fold, making the folds approx 1cm each. Do this all the way to the end.

Step three

Tie a piece of string tight around the middle of the tissue paper. If you want to hang your pom poms leave one end long, if you don’t, cut both ends off.

Step four

You can change the look of your pom pom by cutting the ends into different shapes. I usually round mine off, but you could cut them into a triangle for spiky poms!

Step five

Gently begin unfolding the various layers, pulling each one out individually. Pull some from the top and some from underneath to create a nice round shape. And then repeat on the other side until all layers have been unfolded.

And voila! One beautiful pom pom! Now how easy was that?!

I love these little guys, can’t get enough of them. They look great hanging above a table, or placed on plates to dress your Easter table. I did this at our wedding, I made one for all 100 guests! And even after making that many, I’m still not bored of them :)

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I have absolutely loved seeing how many people have decorated their homes for Easter this year! This is my first Easter on Instagram, I only joined last Summer (I know, how behind the times was I?!) and I am just so pleased to see that I’m not the only one who fills their house with pretty pastels this time of year!

A few of you have asked me to share some pictures and details of where I bought my decorations from, so here goes…

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If you’re anything like me, you’ll always be looking for quick and easy ways to update your home (the cheaper the better of course!) With Easter just around the corner and most of us looking forward to four days off work, I thought now would be the perfect time to share a few ideas on how you can update your home without having to spend too much time or money.

All of these ideas are super quick and super cheap (some won’t even cost you a penny!) so you can spend the Easter weekend how it is meant to be spent…eating chocolate!

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BEFORE AND AFTERThe back garden was definitely the compromise in this house. It’s small, very small. But having spent a summer in it I’ve grown to really love it. We didn’t have a garden in the cottage we lived in previously so any outside space, even as small as it is, was a bonus for us. We barbecued almost every evening through the summer last year and sat out late into the evenings on our comfy corner sofa drinking far too much sangria !

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Today I’m going to be showing you how to a make a tissue paper garland. And not just any tissue paper garland…but an Easter one at that! (Which is just the same as any other garland but in pastel colours!)

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I’m forever collecting images and making plans for every corner of our home, quite often I will wake up with an idea and want to get going that very day. I usually try to run my ideas past my husband (it is OUR house after all), but I have been known to get painting when he’s gone out for the day! Sorry hubs!

I’m lucky that most of the time he likes what I suggest/do (phew!) but every now and then, he’ll turn his nose up…Most of the time he can be persuaded, but occasionally he has been known to get his way and I have had to learn the art of compromise. There was the sanded wood floor vs carpet debate for our living room. And then the Smeg versus the much more reasonable but far more boring (in my opinion) built in fridge. Try as I might, I couldn’t persuade him on either of those, but two loses in a house full of wins isn’t too bad I guess.

But what do you do if your styles differ so much that these kind of disagreements are a regular occurrence? One of my lovely readers has found herself in this situation and has asked for my help. So I have been racking my brain to come up with a few tips to help her and anyone else that can relate!

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I’ve had my trusty “Easter tree” for years now. When I first put this up everyone thought I was mad…But now, Easter decorations are absolutely everywhere and slowly people are starting to think I’m less mad… :)

With Easter just around the corner I’ve started to think about how I’m going to get the house ready, and what bits I need to add to my collection. Today I’m sharing what I think, are the essential Easter decorations…oh yes there is such a thing as an essential Easter decoration!